Portiere-rod.



A. J. ROBINSON. PORTIERE ROD. APRLIOATION FILED FEB. 28. 1908.

904,229. Patented Nov. 17, 1908.

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A. J. ROBINSON.

PORTIERE ROD.

APPLICATION FILED 1'33. 28. 1908.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ANDREW J. ROBINSON, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS PORTIERE-ROD.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANDREW J. ROBINSON, a. citizen of the United States, and a resident of Boston, in the State of h'lassachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Portiere-Rods, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is the construction of a rod for supporting portieres and the like, wherein the part which slidably holds the portiere is interior to, and independent of, the visible portion of the rod.

Referring to the drawings forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a side view, mainly in section, of a rod made in accordance with one form of my invention. Fig. 2 is a cross section of the same. Fig. 3 is a face view of one of the tension nuts of the device. Fig. 4 is a face view of one of the anchorage plates. Fig. 5 is a side view of one end of a modified form of the invention. Fig. 6 is a face View of one of the anchorage plates, and Fig. 7 a face view of one of the tension-nuts, of this modification. Fig. 8 is a side view partly in section, of my preferred construction. Fig. 9 15 a face view of an anchorage plate used in connection wit l my preferred construction. Fig. 10 is a sectional perspective view of a union used with the same.

The visible and ornamental part of this device consists of the tube 1 preferably composed of thin brass, and having a slot 3 running its entire length. Vithin this tube is a wire or slender rod 2 threaded at each end, and of large enough diameter not to be perceptibly weakened by such threads. This wire or rod, which I shall call a wire in order to distinguish it from the structure as a whole, is provided with terminal anchoring means for fastening it to the door posts 4c between which the portieres are to be stretched; such anchoring means being adapted for strongly tensioning said wire, for the purpose of keeping it from sagging under the weight of the portiere.

Upon each threaded end of the wire 2 is screwed a circular nut 5 having in its face an annular groove for receiving an end of the tube 1; such grooves 6 serving to center and support said tube.

An internally threaded collar 7 having an internal shoulder 8 which engages the periphery of a nut 5, serves to bind the latter and the parts connected therewith, to the Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 28, 1908.

Patented Nov. 17, 1908.

Serial No. 418,219.

anchor plate 9 secured by suitable screws 10 to the door posts.

Upon the wire 2 are mounted the rings, hooks or other devices by which the portieres 16 are suspended; such means of suspension descending through the slot By having the wire 2 and tube 1 of proper length, such wire will be stretched very taut by suitably turning the threaded collar '7, and hence will be held by tensional strain. Consequently, no matter how slender such wire may be, it can be held substantially straight by applying su'tlicient strain thereto. It may, however, sag more or less without being apparent, because hidden within the tube 1; but the latter, having no strain at all upon it save the slight one of gravity, will remain straight indefinitely. Further, all the wear caused by the movements of the portieres rings or hooks 15, will be entirely invisible; the tube retaining its polished sur-. face unscratched and unworn for any length of time. I also find that the rings 15 slide along the wire 2 with perfect freedom, as they never can upon a large rod. Further, that by having each suspension device consist of two connected rings, one of which encircles the wire 2 and the other hangs through the slot 3, the latter of which rings is consequently parallel with the edges of the slot, and can move therein without friction as the portiere is slid back and forth.

In the modified form of anchoring means shown in Figs. 5-7, the nuts 5 are each formed with a shoulder 21 adapted to be put into engagement with the socketplate 22 screwed to the door posts as in the former construction. The advantage of this is its ability to be instantly detached; all that has to be done being simply to lift the rod-ends out from the socket-plates 22.

In the preferred form of my invention illustrated in Figs. 8, S) and 10, the anchorage plates 9 are formed with peripherally extended flanges 11 through which are introduced the screws 10 for securing the same to the door frame. Centrally through this plate, also, is an opening 12 slightly larger than the wire or rod), and vertically through to the periphery of said plate is a slot 13 reaching from said opening.

By having the wire or rod 2 somewhat longer than before described, so that it pro jects at each end a short distance beyond the nuts 5, the portiere rod can be put in place by simply dropping such wire ends down into the said slots 13. The unions or collars 7 are then screwed upon the anchorage plates until the desired tension is thereby applied to the wire or rod 2. I prefer to form the said collars with a flange 14: for the purpose of concealing the screws in the flanges 11.

What I claim as my invention and for which I desire Letters Patent is as follows, to wit 1. In a rod for portieres and the like, the combination of a tube, a wire within the same, a circular plate holding each end of said Wire and having an annular groove receiving an end of said tube, and means for anchoring said plates.

2. In a rod for portieres and the like, the combination of a tube, a wire within the same, a circular plate holding each end of said wire, an internally threaded and shouldered collar on each end of said tube and engaging the plate thereat, and an externally threaded anchorage plate for each collar.

3. In a rod for portieres and the like, the combination of a slotted tube, a terminally threaded wire within said tube, a circularnut for each threaded terminus, means for centering the ends of said tube against said nuts, a threaded plate at each end of said wire and tube, and an internally threaded and shouldered collar for binding each nut to its plate, and portiere suspension devices slidable on said wire and reaching through said slot.

4. The combination With the slotted tube, of a nut at each end thereof, a threaded wire or rod penetrating said nuts and terminally projecting therefrom, and an anchorage plate for each end of said wire or rod slotted to receive the same.

5. The combination with a slotted tube, of a nut at each end thereof, a threaded wire or rod penetrating said nuts and terminally projecting therefrom, anchorage plates slotted to receive said ends, and collars uniting said nuts and anchorage plates,

6. The combination with a slotted tube, of a nut at each end thereof, a threaded wire or rod penetrating said nuts and terminally projecting therefrom, an anchorage plate for each said end having a peripheral flange on each, screws penetrating said flanges, and collars uniting said nuts and plates; each collar being formed with a flange for concealing the said screws.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing invention, I have hereunto set my hand this 15th day of February, 1908.

ANDREI V J. ROBINSON.

IVitnesses A. B. UPHAM, WVARREN N. AKERs. 

